NC man found guilty in plot to behead witnesses

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RALEIGH, N.C. — A North Carolina man serving a 45-year sentence for a terror plot to attack a US Marine base and overseas targets was found guilty in a murder-for-hire plot to behead witnesses who testified against him.

Hysen Sherifi, 28, of Raleigh was found guilty Thursday of nine counts related to the murder-for-hire plot, US Attorney Thomas Walker said. Sherifi will be sentenced in February, when he faces a maximum life sentence.

Sherifi represented himself at the trial, which began Monday in US District Court in Raleigh. After opening statements by prosecutors, Sherifi read religious verses in Arabic and lectured jurors on their meaning in English.

‘‘We fight for Allah. We have authority. Do you have authority to make laws for mankind?’’ Sherifi told jurors. ‘‘We do not make laws. We follow the laws that have been revealed by Allah.’’

He continued the same theme in closing arguments Wednesday, when Judge Earl Britt stopped Sherifi from saying ‘‘that all judgment belongs only to Allah’’ and told him to argue his guilt or innocence.

Britt eventually had US marshals handcuff Sherifi and take him from the courtroom to a jail cell.